How Facebook will impact the Summer Tourism Season

Remember how all throughtout the year we've been told in our revenue management classes that market segments are dead and that it now more about communities, life style, addictions.... and blogs. Here is an article that is just simply dealing with that matter. The writter is basically saying that because of - or thanks to - facebook.com, she has been able to influence some people about their holliday plans. Amazingly enough!!

What strikes me about those kind of websites is that yes, indeed, you can be part of a community because you have been to the same school or worked in the same firm. However, how many of these people do you actually really know? How can you rely on a total stranger for your travel plans? How can you trust him/ her just because you happen to have maybe done something similar at some point?

I guess that this kind of blog demonstrates that the word of mouth os a very powerful, if not the most powerful tool, within marketing communications. Nevertheless, I would still be very sceptical. Now that firm now that the blog exist and have that much power, I am sure that some will just start posting some false messages. Anyhow, the power of blogs is already starting to be used with Expedia's exponential communication.